Menu

Top Ten: Underrated Players In The Premier League

Fabricio Coloccini has been the rock in the defense of Newcastle since 2008, and was crucial to them finishing fifth, last season. As well as starting for Newcastle, he has recently been called up for the Argentina squad, to play in the World Cup qualifiers. This season he has won over fifty percent of his duels and hasn’t made any defensive errors, according to squawka. It is surprising that he hasn’t been snapped up by a top four team.

9. Kevin Nolan

It seems that Kevin Nolan follows Sam Allardyce everywhere he goes. He played under him at Bolton and now again at West Ham. Nolan’s abilities get overlooked sometimes. He isn’t a fancy footballer and is rarely exciting to watch, but Sam Allardyce knows how to get the best out of him. He plays to his strengths, which lie in his physical prowess. The way that West Ham play is perfect for him, at the moment, because Kevin Nolan is great in the air. He has already got four goals in eight appearances this season

8. Brede Hangeland

Brede Hangeland has been at the heart of Fulham’s defense now for a few years. He is a very strong defender, and has a very similar playing style to Nemanja Vidic. He is undoubtedly one of the largest and most intimidating centre-backs in England. He has a good heading ability and scored six goals in the league, in the 2010/11 season. He has been quite unlucky not to have moved to a bigger and better club.

7. Alexander Kacaniklic

The Fulham youngster has started this season brightly. He can play on both flanks, as a central midfielder, and has looked like a really good player for Fulham, so far, this season. His strengths lie with his agility and technique, as well as his dribbling. So far, this season, he has made eight appearances in the league, scoring two goals and creating seven chances for his team mates. If he stays fit, expect to see more of him this season.

6. Leon Britton

Leon Britton doesn’t get the recognition he deserves, as he often played second fiddle to Joe Allen, when he was at Swansea. Britton started thirty-five league games last season and is a key reason why Brendan Rodgers’ passing game was so successful. In the middle of last season, Britton had the highest pass completion rate in Europe. Yes, EUROPE; beating Xavi and all the other tiki-taka Spaniards. He is 29 at the moment so it is unlikely that a big club will get him in the future, but surprisingly has no caps for England yet.

5. Nikica Jelavic

Is it a coincidence that Everton have transformed into a top four side when Jelavic arrived? The Croatian striker has added a different dimension to Everton’s game. Before Everton signed Jelavic, they were missing a goal scoring striker in their squad, and now that they have Jelavic they can really push for a top four spot in the league. Jelavic has an eye for the goal and is a clinical poacher; in his last forty-four goals for Rangers and Everton, forty-one have been off his first touch. The striker has great strength and is also good in the air. He doesn’t always get the plaudits he deserves.

4. Jonas Gutierrez

When Gutierrez first came to England, he was a hard working winger with a lot of pace and good dribbling skills. Since the arrival of Ba and Cisse though, he has transformed into a central midfielder, and boasts one of the highest pass completion rates in the league with eighty-five percent. As he can play down the wing and through the middle, he is a very valuable player for Newcastle. Gutierrez has been unlucky not to get a move to a bigger club, but seeing as he is now at the age of twenty-nine, I doubt it will happen.

3. Edin Dzeko

It may seem a bit odd that a player from Manchester City is underrated, but he never starts for them in the Premier League, as he is overlooked by Mancini. At the moment, City are lying in second place in the table, but without Dzeko’s six goals this season from the bench, they would be in ninth place. He is being labelled as a ‘super sub’, which I find unfair. He is an all rounded striker, with great strength and technical ability and also a good eye for goal. Surely Mancini can’t keep on putting his top scorer on the bench!

2. Michel Vorm

What a signing he has been for Swansea! He was signed for only one and a half million pounds last year, and fans voted him as player of the year. Vorm made a huge total of one hundred and forty-three saves last year, only bettered by Wayne Hennesey of Wolves, who had a shocking defense in front of him. Vorm is a very good shot stopper and he has gained the confidence of his defence, making him very easy to depend on. If he continues his form then you can expect him to add to his nine caps for Holland.

1. Peter Odemwingie

For me, Odemwingie is the most under rated player in the league. He has pace, agility, a good eye for goal and is very good with the ball at his feet. Last year, he was one of the best strikers in the league, notching up ten goals. So far this season, Odemwingie has scored three goals in eight appearances, as well as creating eleven chances for his team mates. He is one of the reasons why West Brom are doing so well this year. As he is thirty years old, it is unlikely that he will get signed for a top club, but, with the talent Odemwingie has, he should definitely be at a better club than West Brom.

yes but Holt is talked about quite a lot, as everyone is saying he should get a chance for England, so isn’t as under rated, plus Odemwingie is a better all rounded player, no one really talks about Odemwingie at all

Having read this I believed it was really enlightening. I appreciate you spending some time and energy to put this informative article together. I once again find myself spending a lot of time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worthwhile!